South Carolina Partners for Preterm Birth Prevention: a regional perinatal initiative for the reduction of premature birth in a Medicaid population.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to improve the distribution of preterm deliveries in a Medicaid population through a regional perinatal risk assessment and case management initiative.


METHODS
An innovative public/private partnership was initiated in the 8 county Lowcountry (LC) perinatal region to reduce preterm birth (PTB) among Medicaid recipient women. Eligible women were identified and underwent telephonic risk assessment, education, and access to a 24 hours, 7 days per week perinatal hotline. Women with predetermined risk factors for PTB were offered patient-centered case management. Medicaid claims and birth certificate data were used to compare obstetric outcomes for 2006 (intervention) and 2004 (control) in both the Lowcountry (LC; program) and Midlands (ML; nonprogram) perinatal regions.


RESULTS
There were 6356 Medicaid deliveries in the LC in 2006. Of these, 2111 were referred for telephonic risk assessment; 317 had identifiable PTB risk factors and consented to case management. Compared with 2004, there was a significant improvement in the distribution of preterm birth (P = .05) in the LC region, primarily confined to deliveries less than 28 weeks (1.6% vs 1.1%; P = .029, relative risk [RR] 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.96). There were also reductions in the frequency (6.7% vs 5.8%; RR 0.86, 95% CI, 0.75-0.98; P = .04) and mean duration (25.0 vs 20.6 days; 95% CI, 1.03-7.77; P = .01) of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions. No changes were identified in the ML region.


CONCLUSIONS
A regional initiative of telephonic risk assessment and case management of Medicaid recipient women significantly reduced deliveries less than 28 weeks and NICU care.
Newman
Roger B
RB
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
Sullivan
Scott A
SA
Menard
M Kathryn
MK
Rittenberg
Charles S
CS
Rowland
Amelia K
AK
Korte
Jeffrey E
JE
Kirby
Heather
H
D000328:Adult; D019090:Case Management; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008484:Medicaid; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013022:South Carolina; D014481:United States